Professor of Stroke and Older People’s Care, Director of Research and Enterprise; Director of Lancashire Clinical Trials Unit and Director of Lancashire research Institute For global hEalth and wellbeing (LIFE), Faculty of Health and Care, University of Central Lancashire

Caroline is one of just two nursing professors of stroke care in the UK (both of whom are at the University of Central Lancashire) and contributes to stroke service development at a local, national and international level. Caroline leads a multidisciplinary team of researchers with a large portfolio of clinically relevant research which spans five areas in stroke and older peoples’ care: prevention and pre-hospital care, education and workforce development, acute care, rehabilitation and long-term care.

Caroline is deeply committed to the implementation of healthcare improvement which is reflected in her appointment as Implementation Lead / Deputy Director for NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (NIHR ARC NWC).

Caroline’s work was recognised with the award of the DBE for Services to Nursing and Older People’s Care in 2017 and she is honoured to now be Past Chair of the UK Stroke Forum for 2021. Caroline received National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator Award in 2009 and 2016 and now holds this role with emeritus status.

Contact CLWatkins@uclan.ac.uk

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For publications, please see ORCID

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